 | |
| Category | NASCAR Cup Series |
|---|---|
| Constructor |  Chevrolet Dodge Ford Toyota |
| Predecessor | Generation 4 |
| Successor | Generation 6 |
| Technical specifications | |
| Length | 206 in (523.2 cm) |
| Width | 78.5 in (199.4 cm) |
| Height | 53 in (134.6 cm) |
| Wheelbase | 110 in (279.4 cm) |
| Engine | 90° pushrod V-8 358 cubic inches (5,870 cc) naturally-aspirated FR layout |
| Transmission | 4-speed manual |
| Weight | 3,450 pounds (1,560 kg) (Gen 5) 3,250 lbs (Gen 6 Sprint Cup) 3,200 lbs (Xfinity) |
| Fuel | Sunoco 260Gtx 98 octane race fuel: 2007–2011 Sunoco Green E15 98 octane race fuel: 2011–2012 |
| Tires | Goodyear |
| Competition history | |
| Debut | March 25, 2007 (2007 Food City 500) |
| Last event | November 18, 2012 (2012 Ford 400) |
The Car of Tomorrow[1] (abbreviated as CoT) was the common name used for the chassis of the NASCAR Cup Series (2007 – 2012)[2] and Xfinity Series (since 2011 full-time) race cars. The car was part of a five-year project to create a safer vehicle following several deaths in competition, particularly the crash at the 2001 Daytona 500 that killed Dale Earnhardt.[3]
Used as the fifth generation car style for the Cup Series, the original Car of Tomorrow body design was larger and boxier than the design it replaced, and criticized for its generic appearance and poor handling characteristics.[4] The CoT, however, implemented dramatic safety improvements, cost less to maintain, and was intended to make for closer competition.[5]
The car was introduced in the 2007 Cup Series season at the Food City 500 on March 25 and ran a partial schedule of 16 races.[6] The plan was to require all teams to use the new car in 2009, but NASCAR officials moved the date up to the 2008 season as a cost-saving measure.[7] The Car of Tomorrow body style was retired by NASCAR after the 2012 Ford EcoBoost 400.[8] The sixth-generation car, which featured the additional chassis safety improvements as well as improved body designs, debuted in 2013;[5] many teams simply removed the CoT car bodies, added the new chassis safety improvements, and installed a sixth-generation car body.[9] The chassis was used until the end of the 2021 season before eventually replaced with the Next Gen car in 2022.[10]
In 2010, the Xfinity Series (then the Nationwide Series) debuted its own version of the CoT in a partial schedule, using the same chassis but different bodies and a shorter wheelbase; teams could take old Sprint Cup cars, change the bodies, and run them in the Nationwide Series, provided they passed recertification.[11] The car was required for full-time competition in 2011. No deaths have occurred in NASCAR Cup Series competition since the Car of Tomorrow was introduced.
- ^ David Caraviello (April 2, 2007). "Car of today, CoT seems like yesterday for Hendrick". www.nascar.com. Archived from the original on 2007-08-09. Retrieved 2008-03-07.
- ^ "The evolution of NASCAR Cup Series cars". Official Site Of NASCAR. Retrieved 2022-10-14.
- ^ "Car of Tomorrow to make race debut in 2007". Daytona Beach, Florida: NASCAR. January 23, 2006. Archived from the original on 2006-03-19. Retrieved 16 March 2007.
- ^ Turner, Jared (March 20, 2015). "Brian France reveals his biggest failure as NASCAR chairman". Fox Sports. Archived from the original on 22 March 2015. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
- ^ a b McGee, Ryan (February 15, 2013). "Thanks for the memories, CoT". ESPN The Magazine. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
- ^ "NASCAR's Car of Tomorrow is here today". East Bay Times. 2007-03-22. Retrieved 2022-10-14.
- ^ Staff Writer. "Most teams want Car Of Tomorrow in 2008". Pocono Record. Retrieved 2022-10-15.
- ^ "NASCAR Ford EcoBoost 400 Recap: Keselowski Takes 2012 Championship". Motor Authority. 19 November 2012. Retrieved 2022-10-15.
- ^ "NASCAR GEN-6 for 2013 Bodies - Circle Track Magazine". MotorTrend. 2013-05-08. Retrieved 2022-10-15.
- ^ "NASCAR Next Gen car: Explaining the ins and outs of the NASCAR Cup Series' new racecar for 2022". CBSSports.com. 27 February 2022. Retrieved 2022-10-15.
- ^ Service, NASCAR Wire (2010-07-01). "NASCAR Nationwide Series ready to unveil its "Car of Tomorrow" at Daytona". masslive. Retrieved 2022-10-15.